From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-03-30 23:52:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Early neutering
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., AFERRETVET@c... wrote:
>
> As Dr Williams pointed out black footed ferrets are not spayed or
neutered and
> do not get adrenal gland disease.
Indeed this is true, but it is not really cause and effect. I would
not be the one to be caught sewing up a black-footed ferret after a
successful spay....
But interestingly enough, I have seen a number of black-foots through
my association with that National Zoo. The range of neoplasms is
totally different that that seen in the domestic ferret. Mammary
tumors and hepatic tumors are far more common. We jsut received a
shipment of 24 cases of BFF tumors last week from the Wyoming State
Lab as part of an upcoming publication on neoplasia in this species.
It'll be interesting to see what type of material is included.
With kindest regards,
Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
Join the Ferret Health List at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ferret-Health-list